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Hundreds of alumni, friends and supporters of the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences joined together on February 17, 2022, to show their enthusiasm for the college’s mission by taking part in Stand Up & Holler: Gator Nation Giving Day.

Over the course of the daylong giving event, which kicked off at midnight EST and concluded at 11:59 PST, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences received 551 gifts in all. In total dollars, CLAS raised the highest total amount of any college, program or unit across the university, highlighting the special connection that supporters have to the college’s goals of excellence in teaching, research and service. With more than $6 million raised, the total funds received by CLAS more than doubled that of any other college.

The funds raised will support a wide variety of initiatives for both the college as a whole and for individual departments, including research opportunities, experiential learning programs, scholarships and more.

The college received several significant gifts that will be transformative for programs and initiatives:

• Retired Col. ANNA MORRIS (Political Science ’90) made a major gift to support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Support from CHRIS (Accounting ’96, JD ’99) and MELISSA (EdS and MEd ’99) KONTARIDIS will establish a scholarship to aid undergraduate students in the college.
• JAMES EATON (Political Science ’75, JD ’78) made gift to the Graham Center endowment that provides funding to catalog, digitalize and archive Bob Graham’s papers.
• An anonymous donor made a transformative gift to the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research that will help guarantee Carr’s continuing legacy of marine conservation.
• A gift from DAVID GRIGGS (’71, PhD ’77) will establish an annual merit scholarship for students in the Department of Physics.
• TIMOTHY DEAN made a significant gift to the Bridget Bernadette Phillips Scholarship Fund in History which helps to support current UF History majors to travel abroad to further their education.

“We want our supporters to know that their consistent care, support, and solidarity mean the world to us.” — Bonnie Moradi, director of the Center for Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies Research

Departments, programs, centers and other units throughout CLAS saw support for their own funds. Success stories included the following:

• With over $3,000 raised on Giving Day, the International Studies major was able to establish its first event fund.
• The Department of Geography engaged their passionate alumni and friends and brought in more than $4,000 from 64 donations.
• The Department of Geological Sciences was able to raise over $11,000 with the help of advocacy from the Department of Geological Sciences Advisory Board.

CAROLYN LUYSTERBURG (Geological Sciences ’11), a member of Geological Sciences Advisory Board, was thrilled with the show of support.

“It really shows the meaningful connections that the Department of Geological Sciences builds with its alumni and community,” Luysterburg said. “This year, the funds raised on Giving Day will directly support meaningful and significant undergraduate research experiences.  These experiences build stronger and more capable students that are more competitive and prepared for next steps in their Geology careers (whether that’s grad school or joining the work force!)”

BONNIE MORADI, director of the Center for Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies Research, said she was heartened by the support on Giving Day — and extended her gratitude to all who contributed.

“We are deeply grateful to each one of our supporters and to all who helped share the call,” Moradi said. “We want our supporters to know that their consistent care, support, and solidarity mean the world to us. Their care sustains us to continue to do the work of our shared vision. Their support holds us in community.”

JANE SOUTHWORTH, chair of the Department of Geography, emphasized the opportunities that Giving Day support makes possible.

“These donations support bringing visiting speakers to campus, GeoGator activities across the community, and very importantly, graduate student travel to national conferences such as the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, where they can represent the cutting-edge research ongoing here at UF,” Southworth said. “The UF Geography GeoGator Supporters make such opportunities for our community and we cannot thank them enough for their support.”

The Bob Graham Center for Public Service had two featured funds on Giving Day: The International Studies Fund and the Colburn Student Opportunity Fund. MATT JACOBS, the director of center, noted that the support is instrumental in advancing the center’s mission.

“Giving Day support enables the Bob Graham Center to amplify the legacy of its founder, Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham, by expanding students’ access to a diverse variety of civic engagement, public service and leadership opportunities in the local, state, national and global arenas,” Jacob said.”

University-wide, UF exceeded its goal of 23,000 total gifts with more than 26,000 coming in throughout the day. Learn more about Gator Nation Giving Day and ways you can support the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.